Does D'addario EXL have low tension?

Chrisk-K · #1 10-25-2010, 09:40 PM

I have 040-100 nickel Lo-Riders on my Lakland DJ and 040-100 D'addario EXL190 on my Spector. I don't know if I'm imagining it but the EXL strings feel looser than the Lo-Riders.

ljazz · #2 10-26-2010, 03:48 AM

I find the 045 - 100 D'a's to have more tension than SS LoRiders in 045 - 105. I can really feel, and hear it when I hipshot the E down to D. I can't comment on the Nickel LoRiders though.

bassplayer7770 · #3 10-26-2010, 07:47 AM

I've never compared XLs to NP Lo Riders side-by-side, but I haven't found either set to be lacking in tension for my needs, and I'm often tuned down a half-step.

JTE · #4 10-26-2010, 08:35 AM

Simply can't compare on two different basses. My experience is that hex-core strings like D'Addarios feel more taut than similarly gauged strings with round cores like DR Sunbeams.

John

mmbongo · #5 10-26-2010, 08:37 AM

LoRiders are designed to have higher tension...that way you can slam the saddles down and they don't flop around. Hence 'lo riders'.

GregDunn · #6 10-26-2010, 08:55 AM

Are you asking about the tension, or the stiffness of the strings? Tension is fixed by the scale, the tuning and the string mass. Strings with high tension are not necessarily stiffer than those with low tension; it depends on the core and the wrap of the string itself.

mmbongo · #7 10-31-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregDunn

Strings with high tension are not necessarily stiffer than those with low tension;

I think you're confused

High tension = stiffer string.

That's why you see acrobats walking on a high tension line, and not a low tension line.

markdavid · #8 11-01-2010, 07:41 AM

all I know is Daddario's always felt like bridge cables to me, I never went higher than light gauge with Daddario's for that reason

GregDunn · #9 11-01-2010, 09:32 AM

Yes, all other things equal. But it's quite possible for a string with lower tension to have more stiffness than another string with higher tension, if the construction differences (core, winding type) support it. Stiffness equates to the amount of sideways force required to deflect the string, and I will bet that a naked (unwound) string will feel much less stiff than a wound string of equal tension.